Thank you very much for reviewing.it seems a good start. Lynn,
WildDragonFire, ToughSpirit, Jodiey, Angel452, em, Whitesiren, and
Hopeless romantic 4 ever.
Chapter 2: Advise
Mulan was cooking dinner. The baby began to cry so loud it seemed they were spanking him. She rushed to see what was going on with him. He seemed ok, he had just eaten, unless he needed a change of diaper.
The little girl, Zhen screamed, "Mommy! Tell my brother to leave me alone!"
Mulan took the baby in her arms and ran to find her two other children hitting each other violently. She pulled the girl by the hand and yelled at them both, "No more watching daddy practicing martial arts for you two!"
"But mommy," complained the boy.
"No buts," replied Mulan, "I'm sick and tired of you two trying to kill each other. Now, where are the twins?"
The boy and the girl shrugged.
"Mommy, it seems as if something is burning," said Zhen timidly.
Mulan cursed in a whisper.
"You said a bad word," gasped the little girl.
"I'm sorry, please take care of your brother." She handed out the baby to the girl and went into the kitchen to find dinner turned out into ashes. Shang would be there any minute. Mulan let herself fall hopelessly and muttered, "Some kind of wife I turned out to be." She bent her back forward until her chin touched her knees. Once again, the baby began to cry loudly. Mulan got up and found the pour child tied with ribbons all around him and his sister giggling mischievously.
"Kids!" Mulan yelled, "Leave him alone."
Hearing his mother's voice the baby cried even louder. Seeing Mulan was angry, the two kids Zhen and Wing ran into their rooms.
Mulan untied the baby and carried him back to bed so he would sleep. As she sang a lullaby she heard footsteps approaching.
There he stood by the door with his uniform, tired from the day's exercise yet looking as handsome as he always did. "Hello, baby," he said. His elegant smile still made her go weak at the knees and the way his voice called her baby was the reason why she had five children already. "I found the twins with our neighbours."
"Oh, I told them to stay inside," replied Mulan.
"They said they wanted to have dinner there because.never mind. Is something being burned?"
"Damn it again!" exclaimed Mulan and went past Shang.
Shang sat on the bed next to his youngest son, who played with his little hands. He watched him for a minute and said softly, "Come now, close your little eyes. It's time for you to sleep." Shang closed the baby's eyes gently with the tips of his fingers, but the child opened them again giggling. "Please, little one, sometimes Mommy and I need to be alone." The baby stopped giggling and stared into his father's eyes in wonder. "I'll tell you when you're older, but for now go to sleep." He placed his hand on the baby's forehead and then moved it lower so he would close his eyes. The baby began to cry. "Shh.pronounced Shang, "I did nothing to you." His words were useless.
Mulan returned to see what was going on, "What did you do to him?"
"I only touched him!" said Shang defensively, "It's not my fault he's being spoiled by you, because he's mommy's little boy."
Mulan bit her lower lip and replied softly, "Actually, not for long."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Shang suspiciously.
"I'm pregnant," let out Mulan sighing.
"Again? But, our youngest son is only five months!"
"You should be used to it by now, we have a child every year, and it's not my fault only, you were the one who did this to me."
"Six children," said Shang, "Wow!"
"I know, I look like a rabbit."
"No, I didn't mean that baby." he inched closer and embraced his wife, "You know it's not true." He began kissing her neck.
Mulan pulled away, "Not now Shang, this is serious."
"Come on Mulan, you're only.it's not fair the last time we made love was like more than a month ago," complained Shang, "Now I'll have to wait until your bad mood is over.and it will probably take like a year."
"Oh, and I suppose this is all my fault."
"Well, you should be more careful."
"You should learn to control your hormones!"
"Me? You're the one who seduces me into bed!"
"Ha! Poor Shang, his wife is a vamp and he's forced to have sex all the time!"
She picked the miraculously now sleeping baby and placed him in his crate.
Shang sat on the edge of their bed and began to take off his shoes and socks hopelessly.
Mulan left the room and returned a minute later carrying a bowl of rice and chopsticks. Shang was already lying on the bed facing the ceiling. Mulan placed the bowl on Shang's stomach. He turned to her, expecting her to give him a reasonable explanation of what she had in mind. "Your dinner, darling," she feigned a sweet girlish voice.
"Actually, I'm not hungry, baby," said Shang chuckling nervously. He knew she would know he didn't want to eat because she had prepared dinner. Inside, he wondered what could be more dangerous: eating what was in that bowl or his wife exploding in anger.
"Fine, I knew it," said Mulan simply and lied next to him.
"So, you're not angry at me?"
Mulan turned to her husband slightly moving close to him. "Shut up and kiss me. I'm freezing."
"As you wish," replied Shang inching closer to his wife and began to kiss her mouth. The kiss turned more intense when Shang got on top of Mulan.
"I missed you, Shang," said Mulan breathlessly.
"I missed you more," declared Shang and rolled over the bed with Mulan in his arms beneath him.
For the thousandth time, the baby cried and the couple was forced to postpone their romantic honey moon number.well, they had lost track a long time ago.
******
Fa Zhou limped toward the front door and lifted the log to open it.
"Good morning, honourable Fa Zhou," said Shang bowing his head respectfully.
The elder man did the same in return, "Good day, General Li Shang, please get inside. I shall announce Mulan you are here."
"As a matter of fact," Shang stuttered, "It would be better if she's not told I'm here."
Fa Zhou stared at Shang in confusion. The young man appeared to be more nervous than the previous occasions he had visited them. "I mean no intrusion, General," Fa Zhou began politely, "but why is it you are not here to see my daughter?"
"I came to have a word with you, Sir," answered Shang.
The old man was beginning to feel worried. What kind of news would the young man deliver? Was there another war coming? Fa Zhou inquired, "Is it about my daughter?"
Shang nodded in silence.
"Follow me," said the elder man.
On the way, Fa Zhou thought about the worst things that could happen to his Mulan.
"Take a seat," said Fa Zhou gesturing toward the bench under the magnolia tree. Shang did as he was told and Mulan's father sat next to him.
"What is going on with my daughter?" demanded Fa Zhou in a serious tone.
"I see she has not informed you yet, sir."
"What is she hiding from me?"
"Well," Shang began, his eyes fixed on the ground not daring to look at the elder man, "I asked her if she wanted to marry me a week ago."
Fa Zhou was so relieved to hear that, he almost sighed in front of the young General. "And what did she say?"
"She said she needed time to think about it," replied Shang with the same disappointment he was feeling when Mulan gave him her answer.
"Is that all you wanted to tell me?" asked Fa Zhou addressing Shang as if he were his son.
Shang sighed shaking his head; and then bending his back a little, he hid his face behind his hands like a child embarrassed to talk to a stranger. Finally, he managed to say, "I was wondering if you, sir, could give us your blessing. Well, if Mulan agrees."
Fa Zhou coughed and cleared his throat. "I must say you have some points in your favor, General," he went on, "You see, ever since Mulan returned home after defeating Shan Yu, lots of men have come here to ask me for her hand in marriage. All kinds of men: some of them my age or older, others around Mulan's age; yet none of them appeared to be worth marrying my daughter." He made a pause and continued, "Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but the moment I saw you walking into my house to return my helmet, I knew those weren't your true intentions. I noticed certain fondness in my daughter toward you, General Li. That's one point in your favor."
Shang smiled lopsidedly at hearing the man's last sentence.
"Yet you said nothing about betrothal during dinner, not until today," went on Fa Zhou, "And you told Mulan first you wanted to marry her instead of asking me." This time, Fa Zhou's words made Shang get goose bumps all over his body. Perhaps, he should've talked to him before he asked Mulan.
"There goes another point in your favor," concluded Fa Zhou, "Because you care about her. Other men would have come straight to me and maybe try to bribe me, obviously not counting Mulan's opinion."
It seemed they had removed a very heavy load from Li Shang's shoulders.
"Despite of that, I can't give you my blessing if Mulan hasn't given you a yes."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean," apologized Shang feeling stupid. He didn't remember feeling that stupid before.
"You don't need to apologize, son," said Fa Zhou fondly patting Shang's back, "Like she said, give her some time. Mulan's like that. She might be feeling unsure of what she wants. Don't give up, after all, she never said no."
"Thank you, sir."
"Zhou, if you don't mind boy."
"Right."
Chapter 2: Advise
Mulan was cooking dinner. The baby began to cry so loud it seemed they were spanking him. She rushed to see what was going on with him. He seemed ok, he had just eaten, unless he needed a change of diaper.
The little girl, Zhen screamed, "Mommy! Tell my brother to leave me alone!"
Mulan took the baby in her arms and ran to find her two other children hitting each other violently. She pulled the girl by the hand and yelled at them both, "No more watching daddy practicing martial arts for you two!"
"But mommy," complained the boy.
"No buts," replied Mulan, "I'm sick and tired of you two trying to kill each other. Now, where are the twins?"
The boy and the girl shrugged.
"Mommy, it seems as if something is burning," said Zhen timidly.
Mulan cursed in a whisper.
"You said a bad word," gasped the little girl.
"I'm sorry, please take care of your brother." She handed out the baby to the girl and went into the kitchen to find dinner turned out into ashes. Shang would be there any minute. Mulan let herself fall hopelessly and muttered, "Some kind of wife I turned out to be." She bent her back forward until her chin touched her knees. Once again, the baby began to cry loudly. Mulan got up and found the pour child tied with ribbons all around him and his sister giggling mischievously.
"Kids!" Mulan yelled, "Leave him alone."
Hearing his mother's voice the baby cried even louder. Seeing Mulan was angry, the two kids Zhen and Wing ran into their rooms.
Mulan untied the baby and carried him back to bed so he would sleep. As she sang a lullaby she heard footsteps approaching.
There he stood by the door with his uniform, tired from the day's exercise yet looking as handsome as he always did. "Hello, baby," he said. His elegant smile still made her go weak at the knees and the way his voice called her baby was the reason why she had five children already. "I found the twins with our neighbours."
"Oh, I told them to stay inside," replied Mulan.
"They said they wanted to have dinner there because.never mind. Is something being burned?"
"Damn it again!" exclaimed Mulan and went past Shang.
Shang sat on the bed next to his youngest son, who played with his little hands. He watched him for a minute and said softly, "Come now, close your little eyes. It's time for you to sleep." Shang closed the baby's eyes gently with the tips of his fingers, but the child opened them again giggling. "Please, little one, sometimes Mommy and I need to be alone." The baby stopped giggling and stared into his father's eyes in wonder. "I'll tell you when you're older, but for now go to sleep." He placed his hand on the baby's forehead and then moved it lower so he would close his eyes. The baby began to cry. "Shh.pronounced Shang, "I did nothing to you." His words were useless.
Mulan returned to see what was going on, "What did you do to him?"
"I only touched him!" said Shang defensively, "It's not my fault he's being spoiled by you, because he's mommy's little boy."
Mulan bit her lower lip and replied softly, "Actually, not for long."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Shang suspiciously.
"I'm pregnant," let out Mulan sighing.
"Again? But, our youngest son is only five months!"
"You should be used to it by now, we have a child every year, and it's not my fault only, you were the one who did this to me."
"Six children," said Shang, "Wow!"
"I know, I look like a rabbit."
"No, I didn't mean that baby." he inched closer and embraced his wife, "You know it's not true." He began kissing her neck.
Mulan pulled away, "Not now Shang, this is serious."
"Come on Mulan, you're only.it's not fair the last time we made love was like more than a month ago," complained Shang, "Now I'll have to wait until your bad mood is over.and it will probably take like a year."
"Oh, and I suppose this is all my fault."
"Well, you should be more careful."
"You should learn to control your hormones!"
"Me? You're the one who seduces me into bed!"
"Ha! Poor Shang, his wife is a vamp and he's forced to have sex all the time!"
She picked the miraculously now sleeping baby and placed him in his crate.
Shang sat on the edge of their bed and began to take off his shoes and socks hopelessly.
Mulan left the room and returned a minute later carrying a bowl of rice and chopsticks. Shang was already lying on the bed facing the ceiling. Mulan placed the bowl on Shang's stomach. He turned to her, expecting her to give him a reasonable explanation of what she had in mind. "Your dinner, darling," she feigned a sweet girlish voice.
"Actually, I'm not hungry, baby," said Shang chuckling nervously. He knew she would know he didn't want to eat because she had prepared dinner. Inside, he wondered what could be more dangerous: eating what was in that bowl or his wife exploding in anger.
"Fine, I knew it," said Mulan simply and lied next to him.
"So, you're not angry at me?"
Mulan turned to her husband slightly moving close to him. "Shut up and kiss me. I'm freezing."
"As you wish," replied Shang inching closer to his wife and began to kiss her mouth. The kiss turned more intense when Shang got on top of Mulan.
"I missed you, Shang," said Mulan breathlessly.
"I missed you more," declared Shang and rolled over the bed with Mulan in his arms beneath him.
For the thousandth time, the baby cried and the couple was forced to postpone their romantic honey moon number.well, they had lost track a long time ago.
******
Fa Zhou limped toward the front door and lifted the log to open it.
"Good morning, honourable Fa Zhou," said Shang bowing his head respectfully.
The elder man did the same in return, "Good day, General Li Shang, please get inside. I shall announce Mulan you are here."
"As a matter of fact," Shang stuttered, "It would be better if she's not told I'm here."
Fa Zhou stared at Shang in confusion. The young man appeared to be more nervous than the previous occasions he had visited them. "I mean no intrusion, General," Fa Zhou began politely, "but why is it you are not here to see my daughter?"
"I came to have a word with you, Sir," answered Shang.
The old man was beginning to feel worried. What kind of news would the young man deliver? Was there another war coming? Fa Zhou inquired, "Is it about my daughter?"
Shang nodded in silence.
"Follow me," said the elder man.
On the way, Fa Zhou thought about the worst things that could happen to his Mulan.
"Take a seat," said Fa Zhou gesturing toward the bench under the magnolia tree. Shang did as he was told and Mulan's father sat next to him.
"What is going on with my daughter?" demanded Fa Zhou in a serious tone.
"I see she has not informed you yet, sir."
"What is she hiding from me?"
"Well," Shang began, his eyes fixed on the ground not daring to look at the elder man, "I asked her if she wanted to marry me a week ago."
Fa Zhou was so relieved to hear that, he almost sighed in front of the young General. "And what did she say?"
"She said she needed time to think about it," replied Shang with the same disappointment he was feeling when Mulan gave him her answer.
"Is that all you wanted to tell me?" asked Fa Zhou addressing Shang as if he were his son.
Shang sighed shaking his head; and then bending his back a little, he hid his face behind his hands like a child embarrassed to talk to a stranger. Finally, he managed to say, "I was wondering if you, sir, could give us your blessing. Well, if Mulan agrees."
Fa Zhou coughed and cleared his throat. "I must say you have some points in your favor, General," he went on, "You see, ever since Mulan returned home after defeating Shan Yu, lots of men have come here to ask me for her hand in marriage. All kinds of men: some of them my age or older, others around Mulan's age; yet none of them appeared to be worth marrying my daughter." He made a pause and continued, "Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but the moment I saw you walking into my house to return my helmet, I knew those weren't your true intentions. I noticed certain fondness in my daughter toward you, General Li. That's one point in your favor."
Shang smiled lopsidedly at hearing the man's last sentence.
"Yet you said nothing about betrothal during dinner, not until today," went on Fa Zhou, "And you told Mulan first you wanted to marry her instead of asking me." This time, Fa Zhou's words made Shang get goose bumps all over his body. Perhaps, he should've talked to him before he asked Mulan.
"There goes another point in your favor," concluded Fa Zhou, "Because you care about her. Other men would have come straight to me and maybe try to bribe me, obviously not counting Mulan's opinion."
It seemed they had removed a very heavy load from Li Shang's shoulders.
"Despite of that, I can't give you my blessing if Mulan hasn't given you a yes."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean," apologized Shang feeling stupid. He didn't remember feeling that stupid before.
"You don't need to apologize, son," said Fa Zhou fondly patting Shang's back, "Like she said, give her some time. Mulan's like that. She might be feeling unsure of what she wants. Don't give up, after all, she never said no."
"Thank you, sir."
"Zhou, if you don't mind boy."
"Right."